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6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. S. GRACE.

CIGARETTE MACHINE.

(No Modl.)

No. 483,380. Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

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(No Model.)

H. S. GRACE. CIGARBTTBMACHIN'E.

Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

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H. S. GRACE. CIGARETTE MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

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H. S. GRACE.

CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 483,380. Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

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THE norms wenns co., pHoro-mno., msnmmon. D, c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

H. S. GRACE. CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 483,380. Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

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HENRY S. GRACE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO JACOB A. FISCHER, OF SAME PLACE.

CIGARETTE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,380, dated September 27,1892.

Application filed .I une 2. 1890. Serial No. 354,068. (No model To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that LHENRY S. GRAenaoitzen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State ot' California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigarette-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to produce a cigarette-machine of that class in which a continuous filler is formed of cut tobacco and is covered with paper and cut into cigarettes; and to such end it consists in certain novel mechanism or apparat-us to loosen and otherwise prepare the tobacco and distribute it evenly upon an endless traveling belt or apron in condition and in quantity suitable for the filler, in mechanism of novel construction and operation to compress the tobacco and form it into a continuous filler of uniform size, in novel mechanism to apply and fold the paper Wrapper, and, finally, in a novel cutting apparatus to separate the continuous cigarette into measured lengths, all as hereinafter more fully described.

The nature of these improvements andthe manner in which I proceed to construct and combine the same in the production of a machine to form a continuous cigarette and cut it into lengths are explained in the following description and the drawings that accompany and form part of this specilication.

Figure 1 represents the machine in front elevation. Fig. 2 is a top view with the top belt R and adjacent parts broken away. Fig. 3 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale and partly in longitudinal section, of the iller shaping and feeding mechanism and the paper wrapping, pasting, and cut-ting devices. Fig. 4 is a top view of Fig. 3, but with some parts broken away and the top belt removed. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section through the parts at the line n: x, Fig. e, but on a larger scale, looking toward the left ot said figure. Fig. 6 is a top View of the filler-forming channel and grooved wheels, the top disks being removed. Fig. 7 shows in side elevation and partly in section the wrapper-folding mechanism at the part where the filler and wrapper are brought together. Fig. 8 is a top view of the same parts with the pasting device added to those in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section taken at the line Fig. S, on the left-hand side of that line. Fig. 10 is a top view of the wrapperturning guide, showing the parts in the position they assume when the paper wrapper is turned up around the iiller. Fig. 10 is an end view of the same, taken from the right-hand end of Fig. 10. Fig. 11 is a view of a portion of the endless chain belts and cutters that divide the endless cigarette into measured lengths and carry them ont ot the machine. Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-section through the two chain belts at one ot the cutters and showing, also, one of the lower grooved wheels that drive the chain belts. Fig. 13 shows a link such as compose the chain. Fig. 14 is an elevation of the tobacco-dressin g device, enlarged from Fig. 1. Fig. 15 is a central vertical section of Fig. 14.. Fig. 16 is a horizontal transverse section of Fig. 14, taken through the vibrating jaws. Fig. 17 is a plan or top View of the system of gears that operate the illerforn1- ing wheels and top disks. Fig. 1S is a plan view of the augleplates- Fig. 19 is a central longitudinal section of Fig. 18.

Similar letters and iigures of reference de note corresponding parts in the several views.

A A2 are parts constituting the frame of the machine, on which are mounted a tobacco-dressing apparatus, a feed-belt, a fillershaping mechanism, wrapper folding and pasting apparatus, and a cutting mechanism, the parts operating together to produceacom' tiuuous cigarette and cut it into measured lengths.

The principal shaft l of the machine is mounted in bearings on the table AX and is driven from a power-shaft or a motor by a belt and pulleys. Its motion is applied to the filler-shaping wheels by the counter-shaft 2, to the'feed-belt by shaft 3, and to the wrapper-folding mechanism by counter-shafts et and 5.

C is an endless feedbelt mounted on pulleys 10 and 12 and traveling with regular continuous movement from the outer end under the tobacco-dresser B and through a fillershaping channel formed by horizontal grooved wheels D D', stationary plates D2, and the top disks D3. Motion is given to the feed-beltroller 12 by the spur-gears 14 14, connecting it with the counter shaft 3, the roller beinglocated under the plate DX and the edges of the wheels and of the plates that form the sides of the channel l being arranged to overlap the belt. 5 The wheels and plates are arranged, also, to form a gradually-converging channel, and at the forward end, or that part next the wrap-` per-folding device, the plates set closely together to form a, cylindrical passage. The to top of this channel is covered by at disks D3 of suitable diameter to overlap the channel and run closely together'. The grooved wheels D are iiXed on upright spindles 16, and the first or leading wheels are mounted 15 on spindles 18 and 30. In the present construction there are four grooved wheels in each row with three overlapping top disks fixed on the spindles of the grooved disks; but this number will vary according to the 2o size of the wheels employed and the length of the channel required. I do not confine the construction to any exact size or specialknumvber of wheels and disks.

The plates D2 are secured by screws 17 to the bed-plate DX and are grooved on the front edge to correspond with the grooves of the wheels, and they are arranged to produce a continuous converging channel with grooved edges or sides, as shown in Fig. 6. Continu- 3o ous movement is given to all these wheels and disks from shaft 2 by gears connecting the two outer spindles 18 and 30 with the spindles of the remaining Wheels. Shaft 18 is-driven by bevel-gears (5X-one on shaft 2and the other on the shaft 18-and shaft 30 is connected to shaft 18 by spur-gears 3l 32. The remaining wheels on one side of the channel are connected by spur-gears 23, 26, and 29 and the idle-pinions 24 27, while those on the other 4o side are connected in similar manner to be driven by the spindle 30.

The grooved Vwheels and the top disks, with the intermediate plates and the feed-belt, form a passage that converges and finally takes a cylindrical shape yin cross-section at the discharge end, where the vshaped filler is carried forward by the feed-belt into the wrapperfolder. This part or device is formed of two 5o rounded outer edges or sides that taper toward and finally meet the inner edges in a point or nose at the forward end, the inner edges standing parallel with each other and at suitable distance apart to let the filler pass between them. The bottom ofthe channel 15, between the blocks E, is closed by a belt on which the paper for the wrapper is brought under and in contact with the filler that is confined between the blocks and a short top 6o belt R. These two belts N and R travel at the same rate of speed, the former being mounted on pulleys 34 35 36 and driven by pulley 36 from the shaft 4, while the top belt R is carried by pulleys R R2, the latter of which is driven from the shaft M of the grooved roller M by spur-gears R3 R4. The roller M is located between the two rollers 34 l gether. blocks E E with straight inner edges and 35 and sets in close relation to but below the nose of the blocks E, so that the belt N, running in the grooved rim of this roller is turned up against and is brought gradually into a trough-like shape by the tapering outer sides of the blocks E. These two parts E M and belt N act upon the paper to bringitfrom the flat to a trough-like shape preparatory to the folding operation by which the standing edges of the paper are turned and lapped over the iiller. GroovedrollerMisdrivenfromtheshaft 4 by belt R6 and pulley R5, which pulley is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, with the same rate of speed as the belt N and the pulley 34, grooved roller M and pulley 35, set in an opening in the top plate D to bring the face of the paper-carrying belt up to the surface of the top plate. This opening has standing sides formed of the standing edgesp p of the plates P, that form a channel to confine the wrapper-filler, and the edges p are cut away at points between the grooved pulley and the belt-carrying pulley 35 on opposite sides of the channel to let in the wrapper-folding disks F G, the iirst one F of which projects from behind the channel to the front and lies over the top, while the second one G is placed on the front or outer side and extends an equal distance in the opposite direction over the chan-nel. In passing under these two disks, which are'set to run liat against the top of the filler, the back or inner edge of the wrapper is lirst turned down by the disk F and afterward the front or outer standing, edge is folded over and pressed down by disk G, as may be seen in Fig. 8. 'lo join the lapped edges of the wrapper, a line of paste is applied along the top of the first-folded side by the first disk before the second side of the wrapper is turned down. The folding-disks are fixed on the upper ends of upright spindles 39 40, that pass through the top plate DX of the table from below, and are driven at equal speed from the counter-shaft 5 by the bevelvgears 41 42, that connect spindle 40 to the driving-shaft, and the spur-gears 43 44 of equal size that connect the two spindles to- Paste is applied to the folding-disk F by a paste-trough and carrier-belt so arranged that the bottom face of the disk is constantly coated with a thin body of paste by the belt or cord that travels through the trough and against the face of the disk. The pastetrough H is Xed against the back of the table behind the folding-disk F andhas guidepulleys 45 on the bottom and also at the top, around which a narrow beltT is carried from a pulley or hub (not shown) on the lower side of the disk F. The guide-pulleys serve to carry the belt into and out ot` the body of paste in the trough, while the hub drives the belt and causes it to travel against the bottom face of the disk. The belt thus charged or constantly covered with paste is caused to pass across the face of the folding=disk as the latter rotates. It will be noticed in this operation that the face of the disk passes across IOO IIO

the belt with a rubbing movementthat tends to lay the paste evenly upon the disk and pre- `vents excess or accumulation at any point. The standing edges p p of angle-plates P P are carried beyond the pulley 35 to confinethe cigarette after the belt N leaves it to return over the pulley and to guide it into the cutting apparatus. After passing through the folding and pasting apparatus the wrapped filler in the form of a continuous cigarette is ready to be cut into uniform lengths, and from said folding and pasting mechanism it then moves forward into a cylindrical groove formed by the two endless sides of a carrier composed of links I K, mounted on two sets of upright sprocket-wheels 5l 52-one above the other-to travel in contact. Each endlesschain side has a half-round groove, and the two belts set closely together, so that the continuous cigarette is seized between and drawn along by both belts. Each side is formed of hinged links having knuckles so shaped that a close joint is produced, and the groove or cylindrical passage between the belts when they are traveling together in a straight line is without break. The construction of the links is shown in Fig. 13. Each link has a knuckle 47 on one end and an eye 48 on the opposite end, and the top or outer edge at one two links arejoined together.

` same shaft by spur-gears end is undercut on a curve concentric with the pin of the joint, as at 49, Fig. l1, while the opposite end is similiary shaped with projecting lips 50 to tit into the recess 49 when The sprocketwheels 5l 52 are driven from the countershaft ll, to which one of the sprocket-wheels is keyed, while the corresponding wheel of the other side of carrier is connected to the The two sides of the carrier are thus driven positively from the principal shaft.

Combined with one of the link sides of carrier, and preferably the lower one, is a cutting device that separates the continuous ci- They consist of reciprocating cutters fixed in the lower belt at regular intervals of distance apart, corresponding to the length of the nished cigarette, and each one is formed of a thin blade 54 with a beveled top cutting-edge "standing across the groove and fixed on the end of a push-pin 55 in a recess 56 in the back of the link. The lower end of the push` pin is furnished with a friction-roller 59, that is setto strike against and ride over a stationary incline 60, and a spiral spring 57, bearing against a collar 5S, holds back the cutter below the bottom of the groove in the link. The sprocket-wheels that carry the lower belt are grooved to let in the projecting ends of the push-pins, and the incline is set between the two wheels of the bottom belt, so that as each push-pin strikes against Figs. 3, ll, and l2 illustrate and is drawn over the machine it is pressed up and caused to force the cutter upward through the cigarette held in the groove. A slot or recess 6l in the upper belt takes the cutter at such time, the two belts being properly driven to bring a slot in line with the cutter as it is pressed upward. rlhe incline is fixed on the stationary plate 62.

Over the endless traveling belt is mounted the apparatus to dress and prepare the tobacco for the ller and also distribute it in a continuous line and in regular quantity for a filler of any required size or thickness. The hopper B of the tobacco-dresser has a chamber BX, open at the top and bottom, and in its sides are set vibrating jaws B B, carrying on their faces a number of saw-tooth projections 63 in` spaced rows. Each jaw is mounted on the end of a vibrating arm W, pivoted at the end ou a frame outside of the chamber, and the face of the jaw is struck on a curve, having this point for a center. The jaw, having the saine width of the chamber BX, sets closely against the inside at the ends, and the open spaces at the top and bottom between the jaw and the top and bottom edges'of the opening through which it plays are closed by curved plates W W', having the same width as the jaw and a curvature corresponding to the circle in which the jaw vibrates. The length of the upper and lower plate is determined by the length of the vi,- bratory motion, as the outer edge of the plate should not pass inside the edge of the chainber. Between the two jaws thus arranged there is a fixed bar or plate B3, having along both edges spaced teeth like those of the vi-` brating jaws and alternating with them, so that the teeth on one part pass between the teeth on the other part with suitable clearance, and the moving jaws and stationary cross-bars divide theupper or receiving end of the chamber from the lower or distributing end. The sides of the chamber at the bottom slope inwardly and produce a contracted outlet corresponding in width to the breadth of the feed-belt to be covered with the tobacco, and the bottom of the outlet stands above the .face of the belt to clear the tobacco. Vibrating motion is given to the jaws by two crankshafts G4 65 and connecting-rods 66 G6, as seen in Figs. 13 and 14, the two shafts being con` IIO IIS

bacco is introduced into the chamber through perforated plates, and an air-blast pipe may be placed outside against one of the plates to direct a strong current of air across the space.

By this means the dust and tine particles can be expelled from the tobacco before it passes out of the chamber.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cigarette-machine, the combination, with the endless traveling feed-belt, of the grooved wheels D D', having continuous rotation at a regular speed, stationary plates, and the top disks D3, forming with the feedbelt a converging passage, substantially as described.

2. In acigarette-machine, the combination, with a feeding device forming the bottom of a channel, of horizontal grooved Wheels and intermediate statinaryV plates forming the sides of said channel and fiat rotatory disks forming the top thereof, as set forth.

3. The combination, with means for supporting the wrapper in U shape, of two folding-disks F and G, set to act upon the opposite sides or edges and fold them upon each other, the disk F, having a hub or collar FX, the paste-trough H, and a paste-delivering belt T, running through the trough and around the collar of the disk and in contact with the bottom face of said disk F from the collar ont- Ward to the periphery and adapted to spread the paste upon the surface of the disk, as set forth.

4. In combination with the folding-disk F, having a hub or collar FX, the paste-trough H,

. and a paste-delivering belt T, running through the trough and around the collar of the disk and in contact with the bottom face of the disk from the collar-outward to the periphery and adapted to spread the paste upon the surface of the disk, as set forth.

5. The combination, with mechanism adapted to produce and Wrap a continuous filler of tobacco, of the endless carriers I K, formed of hinged links with grooved faces and set together to form a continuously-traveling passage of cylindrical shape in cross-section or approximately the shape of a cigarette, and spring-controlled cutters carried in the links,

and means for operating them to sever the continuons cigarette into lengths While it is conned in and being carried along by the carrier, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the grooved endless carrier formed of jointed links, of a cutting device consisting of areciprocating knife mounted in a slot in a link, aslide pin or plunger projecting from the back of the link and adapted by its movement to operate the knife, and a fixed incline or stop located in the path of said pin, for operation as set forth.

'7. The combination, with the endless travcling feed-belt, of the tobacco-receptacle BX, having a fixed center-bar B3, With alternate notches or recesses and teeth or projections, and the curved vibrating jaws having corresponding recesses and projections adapted to Work in close relation with said fixed bar across the chamber, as set forth.

8. In a cigarette-machine, the combination, With the carrying-belt forming the bottom of a Eller-forming channel, of grooved converging sides for said channel having grooved Wheels adapted to rotate and forming a portion of each side thereof and revolnble disks forming the top of said channel arranged on opposite sides of said channel to overlap the same, as set forth.

9. In a cigarette-machine, a filler-forming channel having grooved converging sides provided with Wheels adapted to rotate and forming a portion of each grooved side, a feeding device under said channel, horizontallyarranged rotary disks forming the top of said channel, and a closed cylindrical passage or portionY at he discharge end thereof, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingI have hereunto set my hand and seal.

HENRY S. GRACE. 

